1514. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the assessment his Department has made of the potential for converting vacant and disused buildings into affordable student accommodation; and the funding or incentives are available to facilitate such conversions. [64681/26]

I published the National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026–2035 in March 2026, which sets out a long-term framework to increase accommodation supply, improve affordability and support the sustainable delivery of student accommodation nationwide.

The Strategy responds to the supply challenge through a suite of targeted measures, including a commitment to long-term, State-backed interventions to activate supply. It supports the development of student accommodation on public campuses and on private sites close to campuses, subject to State Aid clearance. It also provides for the development of a framework, in line with relevant Departmental consents, to enable technological universities to enter nomination agreements with private providers, alongside enhanced supply through promotion of Rent-a-Room accommodation.

The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Student Accommodation Programme (HSAP), funded under the National Development Plan, is the principal delivery mechanism for the Strategy. This expands the existing Technological Student Accommodation Programme (TSAP) to Traditional Universities. Under the TSAP a list of Vacant Homes Officers in each local authority was shared with the technological universities as part of the process, and all have confirmed that they investigated the potential of derelict or vacant properties for reuse.

Phase One of the Programme is now underway in Cork, Dublin and Galway, phase two extends to Waterford, Limerick, Athlone and will then move to other regions.